Pubdate: Fri, 04 Nov 2016 Source: Portland Press Herald (ME) Copyright: 2016 MaineToday Media, Inc. Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/J9R991Zc Website: http://www.pressherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/744 Author: Tammie Snow LEGALIZED MARIJUANA OFFERS PROTECTIONS FOR KIDS, ADULTS As a mother, I understand the fears about legalizing marijuana. Parents want the best for our children. We worry about addiction. But research unfailingly has shown that most hard-drug users start with alcohol or tobacco, not cannabis. And marijuana has never caused a single death, unlike opiates or alcohol. Parents worry about teen use. Question 1 will better protect our kids, who, everyone agrees, should not use marijuana. From other states, we know Maine teens won't use more marijuana if we vote "yes" on 1. In addition, black-market dealers do not check IDs and do not test their products, putting our kids at risk. Maine can create a legal, regulated market for adults that tests and labels products for safety, conforms to marketing restrictions, requires child-proof packaging, only sells to adults, and is accountable to us. Tammie Snow Portland - --- MAP posted-by: Matt